Fruit or vegetable protector.



Patented Oct. l4, T902. l. G. PUTNAM & 8.. M. BERRY.

FRUIT 0R VEGETABLE PROTECTOR.

(Application filed. Nov. 22, 1901.)

2 SheetsSheet I.

(No Model.)

ull 'Wwooea m. 7n,225, Patented flct. l4, I902. I. c. PUTNAM & c. M.BERRY.

FRUIT 0R VEGETABLE PROTECTOR.

(Application filed Nov. 22, 1901.) (No Model.)

' 2 Shets-Sheet 2.

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UNlTED STATES I PATENT OFFICE.

ISRAEL 0. PUTNAM AND CYRUS M. BERRY, OF ORLANDO, FLORIDA.

FRUIT OR VEGETABLE PROTECTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 711,225, dated October14, 1902.

Application filed November 22, 1901. Serial No. 83,274. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ISRAEL 0. PUTNAM and CYRUS M. BERRY, citizens ofthe United States, and residents of .Orlando, county of Orange, State ofFlorida, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fruit orVegetable Protectors, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, whereby any one skilled in the art can make and use thesame.

This invention relates to a removable protecting-cover for crops, suchas fruits and vegetables,which are grown out of doors, and has for itsobject to provide a device of the kind specified having features ofnovelty and advantage.

In Figure 1 of the drawings we have illustrated in a side sectional Viewa bed of vegetables with our protecting shed or cover arranged inconnection therewith. In Fig. 2 is shown on enlarged scale a detail ofthe construction. Fig. 3 is a top View showing the 'details ofconstruction.

The growers of fruits and vegetables, particularly in the semitropicalclimates, are constantly in danger of excessive loss by reason of thesudden changes in climatic conditions, which ruin their crops. Thesudden changes which are mostly feared are frosts and the sudden fallingof temperature after a rain, which is liable to freeze and ruin thecrops. Hail and wind storms are also sources of considerable damageandare to be guarded against especially by growers of tobacco,garden-truck, &c., in many climates. Attempts have been made to providea suitable shed or protection for such crops as are easily affected byweather conditions, and it is an important consideration that the shedsbe so made that normally they shall be rolled up and out of the way whenthe weather conditions are favorable, but may be easily spread and thebeds covered quickly upon the approach of a storm or a cold wave. Thegreat objections to devices heretofore provided for these purposes isthat they are not easily and readily operated, that they are heavy andcumbersome, and very expensive to put up and maintain. The arrangementand construction herein described and shown accomplishes all the desiredresults of such a device and is inexpensive and easily and quicklyoperated.

As'is well known, the plants are set out in regular and orderly rows,and we propose to set up at intervals of ten or fifteen or any desirednumber of rows series of rows of posts. The posts in one row, as at A,are connected at their tops by an inverted-V-shaped shed, as a. Theposts in the next row are united by a plain fiat board I), and thisarrangement is carried out throughout the length of the field, rows ofposts connected by the inverted- V-shaped sheds a alternating with therows of posts connected with the flat boards 1). Under the V-shapedsheds is fastened in any desired manner, as by tacks or staples, oneedge of a curtain C, which is normally brailed or folded up under theshade to protect it from rain, so as not to subject it to excessive andunnecessary wear. The free edges of these curtains are secured to polesD, and to these poles are connected ropes, which pass over pulleyssecured to the posts B under the sheds b. A curtain is arranged on eachside of the posts A, and the ropes connected to the curtainpoles D,which are arranged to move toward one another when the cover is beingspread, are passed overpulleys or a double pulley d, secured to the postB under the shed b. It will be seen from this construction that when thecurtains are brailed up under the sheds A by pulling the ropes under asingle shed I) both curtains may be extended and drawn up until thecurtain-poles D are wedged in under the shed b, as shown on enlargedscale in Fig. 2. This wedging of the poles D under the sheds B afiordseffectual seal against the admission of rain or sleet or hail, and as itis customary in times of severe cold to build fires on the ground underthe covers it also serves to keep this artificial heat in and to spreadit over the field. Ropes are also secured to the curtain-poles D, whichpass over pulleys G, which are secured to the posts A,

and by these means we are enabled to brail up two curtains at the sametime under the sheds A when the necessity for their use has passed. Inorder to support the curtainup under the shed. Wealso provide wiresstretched between the rows of posts, as at P, to prevent the lifting ofthe curtains by Winds. At the ends of the field curtains N are securedunder the sheds A and are arranged to be dropped down to the ground toform a side wall, these curtains being brailed up in much the samemanner as the top curtains.

The rows of posts are tied together by stringers to keep them in line.These stringers are made upof beams R, set on edge and secured to thesheds, bridging the spaces between the rows. Wires S are secured nearthe upper edge of these beams 011 each row of posts and are pulled downand stapled at the lower edge of the beams substantially half-waybetween the rows of posts, as shown at '1. These wires thus secured tothe beams constitute 'a kind of a truss or brace, which adds materiallyto the stiffness and rigidity of the stringers.

The individual curtains are of any convenient width, and curtain-polesare attached to the free ends of each curtain. These are arranged sideby side throughout the length of the fields, and the curtain-poles areunited to one another end for end in any desired way,asbyascrew-and-socketconnection. (Shown in Fig. 3.) The contiguous edgesof the curtains are to be secured together, as by hooks and eyes. Theeffect of this construction is to produce a continuous solid curtain ofany length desired, this length being determined by the length of therows of posts. This sectional construction of the curtains isparticularly advantageous when in a large field there arecrops ofdifferent kinds which require different conditions of heat and cold fortheir development and protection, inasmuch as we are enabled to spreadand use just as much of the curtain as is necessary.

It will be noted that when the curtains are and trees from being wet bythe cold rain.

The construction herein described and illustrated is a lighter andcheaper construction than any heretofore devised, it is much morereadily and easily operated, and is far more efiicient in affordingasuitable protection for the crops against the action of the elements.

WVe do not desire to limit ourselves to the precise construction andmaterials hereinv shown and described.

We claim as our invention 1. A device of the kind described comprising aseries of rows of posts, sheds connectiug the posts in each row,curtains secured under the sheds of alternate rows of posts one on eachside thereof and normally gathered up thereunder, and means forextending said curtains to cover the spaces intervening between the rowsof posts, substantially as described. p

2. In a device of the class specified a series of rows of posts,sheds'conuecting the posts in each row, sectional curtains normallybrailed up under the sheds of alternate rows and hav ing one endsecuredthereunder, means for connecting the adjacent edges of thesecurtains together, and means for extending said sections together tocover the spaces intervening between the rows of posts, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a device of the class specified a series of rows of posts, shedsconnecting the posts in each row, curtains normally brailed under thesheds of alternate rows and having one end secured thereunder, polessecured to the free ends of said curtains and means connected with thesaid poles for unbrailing said curtains, said poles coacting with thesheds on the intervening rows of posts, substantially as described andfor the purposes set forth.

4. In aprotecting-cover for fruits, Vegetables, 850., rows of postsarranged atintervals and set up between rows of plants, a continuousshed connecting the postsin each row, curtains having oneend securedunderneath the sheds of alternate rows one on each side of the posts,said curtains being normally brailed up under said sheds, and meansconnected with the free ends of said curtains and connected withmechanism located under the sheds of the intervening rows of posts forspreading said curtains.

5. A protecting shed or cover for fruits, vegetables &c., comprisingrows of posts arranged substantially as described,curtains secured atone end to alternate rows of posts, and mechanism mounted on theintervening rows of posts for unbrailing said curtains, substantiallyasdescribed.

6. In a device of the class specified, rows of posts arranged atintervals, curtains arranged side by side and secured at one end toalternate rows of posts, poles secured to the free ends of saidcurtains, means for connecting the adjacent ends of the poles and edgesof the curtain together and means for brailing and unbrailing saidcurtains, substantially as described.

7. In a device of the class specified rows of posts arranged atintervals, sheds connecting the posts in each row, curtains secured atone end to alternate rows of posts, and means for brailing andunbrailing them, said curtains in their extending position beinginclined.

8. In a device of the class specified rows of posts arranged atintervals, sheds connecting the posts in each row, and stringers havingwire stiffeningbraces, substantially as described, and for the purposesset forth.,

' ISRAEL 0'. PUTNAM.

, CYRUS M. BERRY.

Witnesses:

THOMAS E. F. HOSKINS, WILLIAM G. BERRY.

